Chapter Three

It was seven o'clock. I had only been at work one hour but it felt like an eternity. Sweat was pouring out of me and I felt hotter than the six shades of hell. My head was pounding and my body was shaking. I was in agony but I tried to smile and do my job. I was thankful Sam wasn't here. He had been fishing with Terry and would be back later. If he had been here when I arrived I would have been sent home. As it was Arlene had no problems watching me suffer.

"Why you being so stubborn Sookie?" Holly asked as she found me heaving over the staff toilet. Nothing was coming up. I hadn't eaten in days. She patted my back as I looked up at her.

"I can't explain Holly. I just need to be here." She nodded and left, giving me one last look of sympathy as she went. I had no idea why I was at work rather than in bed. Even I thought I was crazy but I had a feeling. A feeling deep down inside which I couldn't shake that told me I needed to live my life as normally as I could. I didn't understand but I couldn't help but listen to the instinct.

I returned to the bar a few minutes later and scanned my section.. Most of my tables were full but everyone seemed happy enough.

"Hey Sook. Can I have another beer?" Hoyt called from a booth. He was with a blonde girl that I didn't recognise. I smiled at him. I was glad he was alright. My brother's marriage had been hard on him. Taking away his best friend and role model.

"Sure." I quickly took the beer and placed it in front of him. "Can I get you folks anything else?" I smiled wider hoping he wouldn't notice that I was very dizzy.

"No that's all. Are you alright?" He looked up at me with worry as he took in my face. I was just about to lie and tell him that everything was fine when everything went black.

"Hey I think she's cumin' around," Sam's voice.

"Should I call an ambulance?" Hoyt's voice.

"No. I'll take her home," Sam's voice. I tried to open my eyes but they were heavy.

"Here put this on her head. She had a temperature," Holly's voice. I felt something cold press against my forehead. It was bliss. The pounding in my head eased slightly but the buzz of thoughts didn't. It was too loud and buzzy to distinguish any individual thought. I sighed and finally managed to get my eyes open.

"Sam?" He was crouched over me with a worried and somewhat angry look on his face.

"Don't try and move. I am going to carry you. Why did you come to work today? Holly said you were sick from the moment you arrived." He was angry.

"I'm fine." I mumbled. I tried to sit up but he pressed me down to the floor.

"Damn it Sook. People who pass out are not fine!" He lifted me up with ease and carried me to my car. Someone had already opened it because the door wasn't locked and my purse was resting on the dash board. He sat me in the passenger seat and buckled me in. I felt like a child and wanted to yell at him for molly codling me but I felt too awful to argue. He climbed in the driver's seat and started the engine without saying a word.

I closed my eyes and pressed my head against the back of the seat. I clung to the ice pack Holly had given me like a life line.

"What's wrong Sookie?" I was actually getting sick of people asking me that. Sam's voice was like ice. I opened my eyes and looked out of the window. I couldn't look at his face. We were just turning into my drive. "I said what's wrong?" He demanded. I could feel his anger in my head as I was too tired to put up any shields but I ignored the question.

"Thank you," I whispered. He groaned as if he was in pain. I turned to look at him.

"Damn it Sookie! I am real worried about you. I thought we were friends." I gasped. Hurt and guilt tumbled through me.

"We are friends Sam, " I whispered. My head was foggy and I had to fight to hold back the tears.

"Friends confide in each other and ask for help when they need it," he scolded. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I doubted I could feel any worse than I felt right now. I cried.

"I'm so sorry," I sobbed. "I w.w. to t.t. you. B.b.…" I couldn't finish. What could I say? There's too much wrong to explain. I'm ill and crazy. I can't remember two days of my life. I think something's after me. I'm scared. I'm lost. I'm alone. If I tell you I think you might die. I feel like I'm dying.

Sam patted my knee and spoke softly. His anger receded.

"Shhh. It's alright Sookie. You don't have to talk anymore tonight." He carried me into the house and placed me on my bed. He pulled a blanket over me and kissed my cheek. I was asleep before he reached the door.

I woke up late Sunday afternoon. I had the strangest feeling that I had dreamt but I couldn't remember it. I felt much better today despite the strange feeling in my stomach. It didn't take long for me to shower and change for work. I headed to the kitchen so that I could find something to eat. I was famished.

"Hey Amelia. Thanks." She handed me my coffee.

"You look better today," she smiled pleased at my improved appearance.

"Much. I'm starving." She pushed a plate of pasta and chicken in front of me and watched wide eyed as I devoured the lot and got up for seconds.

"Got your appetite back too, I see." She laughed as I nearly choked on a mouthful of pasta. "What's your hurry?"

"I have to be at Merlotte's in an hour," I said between mouthfuls.

"No you don't. Sam said you are not to go back to work for a week. He said to ring him when you got up." I frowned and took the phone off Amelia. She had already dialled.

"Sam Merlotte speaking."

"Sam it's Sookie. Thanks for yesterday. I feel much better now…"

He interrupted, "you've got a week off. I don't care how great you feel. I want you to have some time off and as I'm the boss you can't argue."

"But…"

"I said you can't argue. I will come see you tomorrow." He hung up and I scowled causing Amelia to laugh so hard she almost fell off her chair.

"What?" I snapped at her. She laughed harder until tears rolled down her face.

"Anyone else would be glad of a week off work but you have to fight anyone who tries to help you." That knocked the fight right out of me. She was right. I felt terrible.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"We love you anyway." She got up, kissed the top of my head and left. I sat at the kitchen table and thought about my gran. I always thought about her in the kitchen. She had always helped me. I had depended on her. She had been my everything but now she was gone…because of me.

Fortunately Jason chose that moment to waltz through the back door as if he owned the place.

"Hey sis. Hoyt said you fainted at work last night. He said you were real sick. You don't look sick." My brother- always the considerate gentleman.

"I'm feeling better today." He sat in the chair Amelia had just vacated and I noticed he had dark purple shadows under his eyes. "You look terrible Jason." I was still mad at him but he was family and I couldn't help but worry about him too.

"Crystal lost the baby and ran off with some cowboy from Texas. As of last week I am officially a divorced man. I don't regret her but I am sorry about the baby." I reached out and put my hand over his on the table.

"I'm so sorry Jason. Is there anything I can do?"

"Nah. I'm fine sis, really. To be honest I've been more worried about you."

"Me?" I asked in astonishment.

"Ya. I felt pretty bad about what happened. I know you've been mad at me and I wanted to make it up. I didn't know it would happen like that but I should never have done what I did. You're the only family I have and I treat you worse than anyone. When I heard about yesterday I figured it didn't matter how mad you were I had to try."

"Jason Stackhouse are you being nice to me, apologising AND admitting you were wrong?" I asked incredulously. This was an unprecedented event. I couldn't help but be a bit impressed.

"I guess I am," he grinned at me. "Can you forgive your worthless brother, sis?"

"You're not worthless Jase. You just gotta use your head sometimes. I can't forgive you just yet but I can forget." I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"That's fair I guess."

"Do you want a beer?" I asked as I placed my empty dishes in the sink.

"No. I'm headed to Merlotte's to meet Hoyt."

"Have fun."

"See ya later sis." He gave me a big hug and then left. I washed up and put my things away. The phone rang so I jumped to get it.

"Hello?"

"Mmmm. You sound happy." I smiled and I felt my heart flutter in my chest.

"I am happy. Can't you feel that?" I teased. I suddenly felt euphoric. I hadn't noticed the sun had gone down while Jason had been here.

"Yes but I heard you were very ill so I had to check."

"Where did you hear that?" I felt my temper flare.

"Around." Damn vampires.

"Eric are you checking up in me?" I could picture his superior grin.

"Of course. How else would I have know you collapsed at the shifter's bar last night?" I felt his own anger flood the bond and I felt instantly guilty. The silence dragged on and he seemed to grow angrier at my speechlessness.

"Sorry. I've been ill. I'm fine now."

"So I gathered."

"Eric…"

"Yes."

"Are you mad at me?" I hated that it bothered me so much but it did. I didn't want Eric mad at me. Not because he was a ruthless vampire but because I cared what he thought about me. Damn blood-bond.

He snorted, "No. I am more angry at myself." Huh? What's that mean?

"Why?"

"I expect you to be…difficult. But I let Bill convince me that there was nothing seriously wrong with you. Then I find out you collapsed. I knew you were lying to me and I guessed he was too but I never guessed how much he was lying. I thought he cared enough for you to do what was best for you. I wanted to check on you myself but Victor doesn't return to New Orleans until later tonight and the less attention you give him the better. I would have made sure you were ok."

"You know that's the longest explanation you have ever given me."

He laughed, "I'm trying lover."

"Trying what?"

"We can talk about it tomorrow." I could picture his evil smile it made me throb. He laughed again.

"Bill told you what I told him to tell you."

"That's no surprise."

"Will you punish him?" I was suddenly worried I had gotten Bill into trouble.

"No but I will be having words with him."

"Why won't you punish him?" This was not normal Eric behaviour.

"I told him to find out what was going on. He did the best he could. It's not his fault you are a stubborn, infuriating woman."

"Thanks," I said as sarcastically as I could manage. He laughed.

"I only speak the truth lover." And with that he plonked the phone down. I was furious. I wasn't furious at the insult or the rudeness. I was furious at myself for finding him funny.